Tsunami Slams Chile After Deadly

Magnitude-8.3 Earthquake;

Southern California, Hawaii

Under Tsunami Advisories

The tsunami is expected to fan out across much of the Pacific Ocean, though the worst of its power is expected to be focused westward toward French Polynesia. Nonetheless, the two U.S. government agencies responsible for tsunami forecasting say tsunami waves of 1 to 3 feet may reach Hawaii early Thursday morning, while a tsunami of less than 1 foot is expected to reach southern California around the same time.

SANTIAGO, Chile -- A powerful magnitude-8.3 earthquake hit off Chile's northern coast Wednesday night, causing buildings to sway in Santiago and other cities and sending people running into the streets.

At least four aftershocks above magnitude-6 and other strong shakes rattled the region as tsunami alarms sounded in the port of Valparaiso in the first major quake since a powerful quake and tsunami killed hundreds in 2010 and leveled part of a southern Chilean city.

The tremor was so strong that people on the other side of the continent, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, reported feeling it.

Officials ordered people to evacuate low-lying areas along the 2,400 miles of Chile's Pacific shore, from Puerto Aysen in the south to Arica in the north. Cars streamed inland carrying people to higher ground.

A map from the U.S. Geological Survey shows the epicenter of a magnitude 8.3 earthquake that struck Chile on Wednesday, September 16, 2015.

USGS

Authorities said some adobe houses collapsed in the inland city of Illapel, about 175 miles north of Santiago and close to the epicenter.

Illapel's mayor, Denis Cortes, told a local television station that electricity was out in the city. "We are very scared. Our city panicked," he said.

Cortes said at least one person was killed and 15 others hurt after being struck by collapsing walls.

The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the quake at a preliminary magnitude of 7.9 but quickly revised the reading upward to 8.3. U.S. officials said the quake struck just offshore in the Pacific at 7:54 p.m. and was centered about 141 miles north-northwest of Santiago. It said the quake was 4.8 miles below the surface.

"The first one was long and frightening and the aftershocks are still coming," Santiago resident Timothy Luader told CBS News.

People along Northland’s east coast are being warned to stay away from beaches and estuaries after dark today and keep abreast of latest updates throughout the day after tsunami warnings issued in the wake of a large earthquake off Chile.

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) issued an official tsunami warning (marine and beach threat) for East Cape, Chatham Islands, Coromandel, and Banks Peninsula just after noon today in the wake of the reportedly 8.3 magnitude quake.

gulfnews.com

Times of Oman

Muscat: An earthquake measuring 2.5 on the Richter scale was recorded around ... by theearthquake monitoring centre of the Sultan Qaboos University. ... an Amerat resident, said that he and his family felt the tremors but thought it ...

gulfnews.com

Times of Oman

Muscat: An earthquake measuring 2.5 on the Richter scale was recorded around ... by theearthquake monitoring centre of the Sultan Qaboos University. ... an Amerat resident, said that he and his family felt the tremors but thought it ...

gulfnews.com

Times of Oman

Muscat: An earthquake measuring 2.5 on the Richter scale was recorded around ... by theearthquake monitoring centre of the Sultan Qaboos University. ... an Amerat resident, said that he and his family felt the tremors but thought it ...

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